Effect of counterpart material on the tribological properties of Zr-based bulk metallic glass under relatively heavy loads

Zr-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs), especially Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5, are widely used as mechanical components due to their simple preparation process and excellent properties. In this study, the tribological properties of Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 pins and different counterpart materials (AISI 5120 steel, AISI 52100 steel and Zr41Ti14Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 amorphous discs) were investigated using a pin-on-disc tribological apparatus under relatively heavy loads. The structure, thermal stability and wear morphology of the amorphous pins were examined using X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Coefficient of friction was in the range from 0.15 to 0.30 and was found to depend on the counterpart material. Wear weight loss of crystalline material disc was lower than that of the pins, whereas the opposite result was obtained when the Zr-based BMG was used as the counterpart material. Also, the wear mechanisms of Zr-based BMG pins included grooves, micro-cracks, peeling-off and vicious flow when it slid against crystallization material. However, rough detached damages and wave-like patterns were found on the BMG pins when amorphous discs were used as the counterpart. Meanwhile, there also existed differences of wear mechanisms between the crystallization material and amorphous discs. [Display omitted] •The lowest COF exists under the Vit 1 pins versus Vit 1 discs conditions.•The trends of wear loss between crystal and amorphous alloys are different.•Wear mechanisms of different counterparts are analyzed.